German cable operator Kabel BW has criticised commercial broadcasters’ proceedings during the introduction of their HD channels.

“Unfortunately we have the impression that the commercial broadcasters are concentrating very heavily on satellite distribution, or more precisely the Astra project HD+, and are investing exclusively there into distribution,” Klaus Wolf, head of product management TV & content, told industry publication Digitalmagazin. “This and the partially overblown demands regarding signal protection, especially on cable, give the impression that the commercial broadcasting groups have somewhat forgotten cable viewers - despite half the German population receiving television via cable.”

Nevertheless, Wolf stressed that Kabel BW was available for constructive discussions with private broadcasters over carriage of their HDTV offers. “Our cable customers are, as we are, of course interested in their distribution.”

General interest channels RTL and VOX launched in high definition on November 1 via HD+ on Astra (19.2° East), but still have to gain carriage on either cable or IPTV networks. On January 31 2010 Sat.1, ProSieben and kabel eins will commence transmissions on the HD+ platform.

Industry insiders see the sticking point as the usage limitations demanded by commercial broadcasters for their HDTV programme content through which they hope, for example, to prevent commercials from being skipped or content being copied. It seems that cable companies want to avoid these restrictions being implemented on their networks as they fear complaints from angry customers, and are instead hoping that a more viewer-friendly solution can be agreed upon.